Magrez to open Pape Clement restaurant

Chateau Pape Clement owner Bernard Magrez is set to open a tasting school and restaurant at the chateau by early 2008.

Magrez officially opened his boutique at the Pessac property this week, and announced his plans for expansion at the same time.

The restaurant will offer food both during the daytime and some evenings. Pape Clement spokesperson Marie Huguenin Dezot told decanter.com the food would ‘simple…such as tartines and Spanish-style tapas. The emphasis will be firmly on food and wine matching.’

The current boutique is Magrez’s second, with the first just off Avenue de l’Opera in central Paris. The Bordeaux shop, adjacent to the chateau itself, is similar in design and also stocks Magrez’s 110 wines from his 35 properties around the world, including Herencia del Padri from Priorat and his limited edition micro cuvees.

Some dozen of the wines in the shop cost over €200. You can have cases delivered to your door in a Rolls Royce – if you live in the Bordeaux area.

Alain Ducasse of the Plaza Athenee in Paris and London’s Spoon restaurant has been linked with the Magrez restaurant, although it is unclear in what capacity he will be involved.